5 Stages of Toddler Nap Time

I love an afternoon nap time! While it helps in the overall growth of children, it also clearly gives a break to a crazy day. Nap times make my children less cranky at night, so in return, I am more sane. Haha

In addition, it buys me a good hour or so, to focus on some important stuff (so this blogging thing is seriously more important than laundry, huh?! OF COURSE.) or just do whatever I want, while my children fuel their body with the energy they need for the rest of the day.

With all these benefits, I’m sure everybody loves nap time. Who doesn’t, right? Apparently, my toddler feels otherwise. My son does take a nap every afternoon, but in his case, it sometimes takes a looooooong process.

Here, let me share the 5 Stages of Toddler Nap Time, brought to you by my highly energetic 2-year old son, Zion.

5 Stages of Toddler Nap Time

Stage 1 – Jump

In this stage, I take Zion to bed and tell him that it’s time for a nap. Of course, he’d refuse and will negotiate that he has to take one “last” jump before sleeping. The last one will be followed by another “last” jump, and another one, and another, and…. you get it! There’s no such thing as “last” for toddlers!

Stage 2 – Milk

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After he’s finally done with his last jump, he asks for his milk. He lies down and drinks for a few minutes, then hands it back to me, claiming he is done, which means he has consumed three-fourths of it. Yes, there is always about ¼ left which he refuses to finish.

Stage 3 – Play More

This time, since he is “done” with his milk (as he says), then it’s time for play. Instead of napping, he is now energized to play more. He will request for his ball, toy, drum, racket, pictures, etc, etc. Nap time seems to be a perfect time to play with everything at the same time.Then, he asks to play hide & seek and wrestle and tickle. Don’t I dare to say NO because he’ll burst into crying – which I’d rather save for the last stage.

Stage 4 – Water

After I succeeded telling him enough of playtime, his next request will be one “last” water. Hmmm this is another negotiation which happens at least two times until I start using my “mad” voice and order him to go back to bed and take a nap.

Stage 5 – Settle down

He finally settles down and asks for his pillow. It seems that he can’t sleep unless “Olaf” is on the side. Hmm but sometimes, any pillow will do. He just really makes random requests to delay his nap time.

Bonus Stage – Mad Mom

This bonus stage happens 1 out of 5 nap times. If he hasn’t really taken his nap yet, he would do everything from stage 1-5 all over again. But this time, I am now about to push my “Mad Mommy” button. Enough is enough! With a mad voice, I’d say something like.. “No more toys, done with water, here is your pillow, finish your milk, lie down and close your eyes! Close!”

This sometimes results in tears, but the good thing is, he’s finally well-rested.. Yey, he’s asleep, I win! 😀 LOL

This is the 5 stages of toddler nap time at home. Does any of it seem familiar to you? Is it a normal thing for boys (or some girls) or is it just really my son driving me crazy? Haha Share about your children’s nap time in the comments below. 🙂

As with my daughter and our bed time routine, well that’s another story. 😉

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Rose is a Lifestyle & Parenting Blogger who loves to write positive things about life and crazy stuff about parenting. She enjoys wandering around with her two ninja kids in tow.
As a freelance writer, she spends most of her nights catching up online instead of sleeping. :)

23 Comments

Haha. When the daughter doesn't seem too sleepy, we try to force her to sleep by sleeping ourselves. She often asks for milk before going for a nap but when she still stays up after that, we just sleep beside her and eventually, we find her lying somewhere in the bed beside us.

The daughter sleeps more – and better – when we are on the road though.

We can relate. Never a problem with our daughter having a nap but the son is too hyper, jumps a lot like your baby too, and talks much or if not, will ask me for 1 game daw sa IPad (knows how to negotiate na!) 🙂 Boys will be boys! 🙂

Right. But wow, I am impressed that you are still asking him to take a nap. I'm not sure if I can keep my kids to nap when they are past 7 years old, observing their older cousins and kids here in the neighborhood. Hehe

nap time with my rowdy 5-year old is a luxury but i do get lucky from time to time. it used to be a source of frustration for me especially when i struggle to make him take his nap. he has a gazillion of alibis + one million and one ways to skive off naps altogether.

Hahaha about my "not so" hyper MM hehhe she uses her iPad opening a Youtube video as her musical background whether it's a nursery rhyme or a short movie even Mister Maker makes her goes to sleep. 🙂 A glass of milk will do but sometimes it will charged her up so I let her drink after the nap. 🙂 MM does her jumping and tumbling stage pala at night not in the afternoon.. Kids these days..hehehe

Hahaha! This is really funny :)) Reminds me of my girls. My youngest used to sleep after lunch, walang kahirap-hirap. As she approaches the two year old stage, grabe, crying fest before she goes to sleep. Hahaha! What I do naman is close the lights (since they associate a dark room with sleeping time), no toys, no iPad, no everything :)) It works with my youngest but for my three-year old, well, that's a different story too :))

Thanks for sharing your experience, great tip sa countdown! 🙂 I haven't tried reinforcing a countdown with my son yet as I think he's too young to understand. But I do it with my girl. sa book, I no longer read any book for nap time kasi when he's still active, he always grabs the book and walang "reading" na mangyayari.. haha So we read sa bedtime nalang when he's more relaxed. 🙂

I often nap with my kids too! Haha Yeah, I feel like this is really a boy's thing coz I can't remember my daughter stalling nap time when she was his age. Your daughter is a good sleeper. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

Love your post momsie Rose- very true, kids nowadays got so much things to do in mind with so many distractions. Our little boy (8 yrs. old but still the baby) have so many diversions just to keep himself awake. Either chocloates or more chocolates which he learned keeps him alert but we are trying to keep him off chcoloates beacuse of caffeine. At his eraly age he discovered that choco can keep him awake. Thanks for sharing your story.

I can relate, I have a spirited boy too! He usually sleeps in the afternoon a little bit after lunch time..if he's playing or watching tv, I give him a time warning, like I say 5 more minutes then it's time for his nap..then a 10 second countdown.. hehe, this usually works, but sometimes if may "S", makikipag negotiate pa sya… sometimes we read a book before nap time, this helps too 🙂

Haha this was a fun read! I guess it's because he's a boy? I have a few stages as well but not as hyper as your son's, haha. First I tell my daughter it's time to nap. Then I'll ask her to check the living room and find her "friends" (the dolls she sleeps with). Then we'll go to the room, she'll sit on her bed and wait for me to read her a (sometimes two) books. Then I'll tell her to sleep, and she'll sleep on her own. Oh, I always put water next to her bed so sometimes she'll drink some water but she'll sleep soon after. 2 hours of peace haha (Although sometimes I spend that time sleeping din lol)Loved your post. Looking forward to reading more! 🙂

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Rose Angelie

Positive things about LIFE + Crazy stuff about PARENTING. Mommy Wanders Blog is filled with Life Inspiration, Family & Parenting Stories, and a few Lifestyle Updates. Join me as I wander through this roller-coaster journey with my two ninja kids in tow! :)
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